Ayubhowan!

I’m Mahesh known to many as Sala.
An artist whose canvas is the body.
A yogi whose practice is life.
Presence is my medicine.

Salasbananas is a portal for self-inquiry, inviting creatives, changemakers and queer bodies to bring their dreams into being through embodied practice.

This is an invitation to reconnect with our bodies, explore ancient wisdom, cultivate meaningful relationships and celebrate this human experience through the artful practice of soul-centered living.

What’s On

Traditional Sri Lankan Drum and Dance at Lotus

21 and 28 November · 3–4:30 pm · Lotus Yoga Shala, Ahangama · LKR 6,000 per person

Workshop details and booking · See all gatherings

The Queer Temple

The Temple of the Unmanifest

Change in motion

A space in Talpe to practise bringing queer dreams into form. Through yoga, art, ritual and community, we explore how change happens, what we’re ready to let go of, and what it means to reclaim our true nature.

Explore the Temple · Find a practice · Meet our collaborators

Services

Celebrant

Ceremonies shaped around the people and passages they honour.

Host

Gatherings and retreats held with care for the people in the room.

Curator

Experiences shaped with Sri Lankan artists, practitioners and wisdom keepers.

Island Guide

Journeys through Sri Lanka rooted in place, practice and relationship.

Explore services · Guidance for facilitators

Events, workshops & Gatherings

Visit our Gatherings page for the full event calendar and details.

  • Lit oil lamp, marigolds and a terracotta figure on the Creative Puja altar

    THE CREATIVE RETURN

    A ritual for artists, makers, dreamers and visionaries to return to themselves and consciously nourish their creative life force.

    Thursday, 19 November 2026,

    4:30–7:00 PM

    📍 Salasbananas the Queer Temple, Thalpe
    🎟 LKR 6,000 per person


    Sign up is essential

    Join This Event
  • Pahatha Rata Natum workshop with Iresha, Saturday 7 November at Bo Ahangama

    PAHATHA RATA NATUM

    Traditional Sri Lankan low-country dance with Iresha, founder of Sandaranga Dance Academy, Dikkumbura.

    A fun, sweaty introduction to the Matara tradition. Beginners welcome.

    Saturday 7 November · 3.30–5.30 PM

    Bo, Ahangama · LKR 1,500 per person

    Subsidised introductory pilot class.

    Join our WhatsApp community for class details and future dates.

    Join the WhatsApp Group

  • SAMUDRA MANTHAN SADHANA

    A morning sadhana inspired by the ancient story of Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean.

    About Arise Weekends

    Sunday 8 November · 7:30 AM
    Arise · Hiriketiya
    LKR 3,500

    Part of Arise Weekends with Sala.

    Info & Bookings

  • INTRODUCTION TO AYURVEDA

    A two-hour introduction to Ayurveda, its origins, foundational principles. looking at Ayurveda not simply as a system for treating imbalance, but as a way of understanding how we live in relationship with ourselves, nature and the rhythms around us.

    Sunday 8 November · 12:00 PM
    Arise · Hiriketiya
    LKR 6,000

    Part of Arise Weekends with Sala.

    Info & Bookings

  • SENSUALITY VS SEXUALITY

    by Ruuh

    How do cultures shape our understanding of sensuality, sexuality and what it means to own our bodies?

    First Tuesday of each month ·

    4–6 PM
    Salasbananas · Talpe
    LKR 4,000

    Part of The Island Within & Without.

    Join This Event

  • PATRIARCHAL VS MATRIARCHAL SOCIETY

    by Ruuh

    An inquiry into women’s strength, femininity and the expectations we inherit about gender, power and belonging in society.

    Second Tuesday of each month

    4–6 PM
    Salasbananas · Talpe
    LKR 4,000

    Part of The Island Within & Without.

    Join This Event

  • I AM THIS & THAT

    by Ruuh

    Inspired by the ocean, waves and moonlight, we explore identity, contradiction and making room for all that we are.

    Third Tuesday of each month

    4–6 PM
    Salasbananas · Talpe
    LKR 4,000

    Part of The Island Within & Without.

    Join This Event

  • SPIRITUALITY & INTEGRATION

    by Ruuh

    How do spiritual and material life meet? Explore releasing attachment while still wanting, creating and participating fully in life.

    Fourth Tuesday of each month

    4–6 PM
    Salasbananas · Talpe
    LKR 4,000

    Part of The Island Within & Without.

    Book Your Spot

Retreats & Journeys

Explore retreats for practice, rest and connection in Sri Lanka. Visit our Retreats page for the full details and discount codes for up to 10% off selected partner retreats.

  • A group of people practicing yoga outdoors under a thatched roof, seated on yoga mats with their hands in prayer position.

    Surf, Yoga & Wellness Retreat

    Lotus Surf & Wellness, Ahangama. Find your courage in the waves, return to your breath in the jungle shala with me, and unwind with massage and nourishing food. Choose a 6- or 13-night stay.

    Explore & Book

  • Yoga & Ayurveda Journeys

    Personally curated journeys with yoga, breathwork and meditation alongside individual care from Ayurvedic doctors and therapists. Make space for nourishment, rest and inquiry, with my guidance throughout.

    Talk to me
  • Green peace inn weligama

    Breathwork, Meditation and Yoga Retreat

    Green Peace Inn, Weligama. An eight-day retreat by the ocean with breathwork, meditation, yoga, plant-based food and Ayurvedic treatments. Explore at your own pace, supported by practice, rest and community.

    Explore & Book
Explore Retreats & Offers

Guidance & Ceremony

I offer one-to-one guidance for queer people finding their own way, creatives and changemakers bringing something to life, and people marking a meaningful threshold through ceremony.

Inner Alchemy

One-to-one guidance for periods of change, with practices you can bring into everyday life.

Explore Inner Alchemy
Seaside ceremony altar with purple flowers in Talpe

Celebrant Services

Personal ceremonies for commitments, vow renewals, and rites of passage, shaped around the people and the moment.

Enquire About a Ceremony

Community

I love creating places where people can find each other. A dance class, a lamp lit together or a conversation over tea can be the beginning of a friendship. These groups help us stay connected on Sri Lanka’s South Coast & boyond.

Please read and honour each group’s guidelines before joining.

  • Lit oil lamp, marigolds and a terracotta figure on the Creative Puja altar

    Salasbananas Gathering Community

    Stay in touch with what’s gathering at Salasbananas, the Queer Temple in Talpe. We share creative workshops, ritual, movement practices and invitations to gather.

    Group guidelines. Make room for different experiences. Ask before sharing other people’s stories or photos, and keep promotions relevant and agreed with the admins.

    Join on WhatsApp
  • Pahatha Rata Natum workshop with Iresha, Saturday 7 November at Bo Ahangama

    Traditional Dance Community

    Learn and practise Pahatha Rata Natum, Sri Lanka’s low-country dance, with Iresha. Join for workshop dates and practice updates from the Matara tradition. Beginners are welcome.

    Group guidelines. Respect the teachers and lineage. Ask before filming or sharing images, and keep posts related to the dance community.

    Join on WhatsApp
  • Sacred Queerness rainbow and two merfolk drawn in coloured pencil

    Sacred Queerness Community

    Hosted by queer community and exclusively for LGBTQIA+ people. Meet each other and hear about queer retreats, gatherings, spaces and community events on Sri Lanka’s South Coast.

    Group guidelines. Honour names, pronouns and boundaries. Ask before sharing messages, photos or stories outside the group, and let each person decide what they share about themselves.

    Join on WhatsApp

Salasbananas Yoga & Art Studio

A queer temple, art gallery and intimate event space in the paddy fields of Southern Sri Lanka, created for practice, expression, connection and belonging.

Events & Bookings

What people say

  • Kimi Nishimura

    “Sala combines incredible insight, skill and wisdom with playful humour in his practice. I left every session feeling extended physically and emotionally. Thank you Sala!! Hope to be back again.”

  • Irena Beniston

    “Sala's yoga class. It was absolutely wonderful and more than a yoga class, I would say it was like a yoga workshop. He has a great knowledge of yogic philosophy. My friend and I were totally blown away and I would highly recommend him.”

  • Mette Nielsen

    “Sala is amazing so knowledgeable his class was magical felt healing and grounding just what I needed after 10 day Ayurvedic retreat . The yoga shala and surrounding are beautiful don’t miss out on this experience.”

  • Denisa Palková

    “Sala guides his sessions with sensitivity, respect, and genuine attention to the person in front of him. I found myself moving into positions that were challenging and that I would never normally have attempted. For the first time in my life, I managed a headstand!’

  • Ilyar Oloufi

    “Sala is a professional and heart centered yoga teacher I trust fully to guid me. He has a lot of experience and you can feel from the very first session. I'm looking forward for our next session!”

  • Colleen Wright

    “Wow! What a gift to experience Salasbananas Yoga 🤍 it was truly a magical morning vinyasa class that left me feeling uplifted, light, and joyful throughout all the day.

    Thank you Sala 🙏🏼”

  • Sandhya Krishna

    “My Reiki session with Salaa was truly a beautiful experience. From the moment the session ended, I felt noticeably lighter,both physically and emotionally,like blocked energy had finally been released. It honestly felt as though my clogged chakras had been gently opened up.”

  • Yasmine Ben Jemia

    “ I had a session yesterday with Sala at his space, combining breathing, yoga, and meditation. It was a truly beautiful discovery. My friends and I deeply enjoyed the experience and felt light, grounded, and energized afterwards. Sala has a very natural and clear presence, with a deep sense of energetic wisdom.”

View my Google Reviews

Curious? Let’s talk.

Have a question about a practice, retreat or working together? Send me a message, or book a free 30-minute discovery call.

Book a Discovery Call